Thursday, November 29, 2012

DOMA & United States Supreme Court

Dec 7th 2012 JUST
IN: The United States Supreme Court announced that it will hear
arguments in United States v. Windsor which challenges the
constitutionality of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The
Court also granted a hearing to Hollingsworth v. Perry, the challenge to
California’s Proposition 8. Arguments before the Court are likely to
take place in March 2013. Updates to Come…:)

UPDATE: The Supreme Court, after taking most of the day to prepare new orders, took no action Friday on the ten gay marriage cases now on the docket. The next opportunity for the Court to issue orders will be at 9:30A Monday. Nothing has ruled out the possibility that some actions on gay marriage could be announced at that time, although there is no indication that will occur. It may be that the Court needs more time to decide what it wants to do next on any of the cases.

Friday the United States Supreme Court will consider whether it will hear arguments this term in one or more cases related to the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
GLAD (Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders) is party to 2 of the cases the Court may review, Gill v. Office of Personnel Management & Pedersen v. Office of Personnel Management. In both instances an Appeals Court deemed unconstitutional Section 3 of DOMA, which denies federal recognition to legal marriages of same-gender couples.
In California the American Foundation for Equal Rights is also waiting to hear if the Supreme Court will consider whether to grant review in Hollingsworth v. Perry (formerly Perry v. Brown), the federal constitutional challenge to California’s Proposition 8. These cases all challenge the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) & have been distributed for discussion at the Justices’ private Conference scheduled for Friday, November 30, 2012. The court announcement on DOMA cases is likely between 1:30-3:30P EST on Nov. 30th. We’re standing by to bring you all the updates exclusively through GLAD Civil Rights Project Director Mary Bonauto & from the Prop 8 case Plaintiffs’ lead co-counsel Theodore B. Olson & David Boies; plaintiffs Kris Perry & Sandy Stier & Paul Katami Jeff Zarrillo as well as AFER co-founder Chad Griffin now President of HRC & AFER executive director Adam Umhoefer. So this should be extremely interesting.
Updates to Come…:)